Scotland Health Highlights Importance of Rural Health Clinic Accreditation as First Clinic Achieves Milestone

Scotland Health proudly recognizes the importance of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) accreditation—an achievement that reinforces the system’s mission to provide safe, high quality, and accessible care to patients across rural southeastern North Carolina.

Laurinburg Family Practice and Urgent Care, part of the Scotland Physicians Network (SPN), recently received confirmation of accreditation as a Rural Health Clinic by The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading healthcare accrediting organization. While this is the first of five planned RHC accreditations within SPN, it represents a meaningful step in Scotland Health’s broader strategy to strengthen access to quality care across all of its rural communities. This milestone highlights the collective work of the entire network and underscores the systemwide commitment to excellence—not a distinction of one practice over another.

Rural Health Clinic accreditation carries significant value for regions such as Scotland County and surrounding communities, where patients often face challenges including provider shortages, transportation barriers, and higher rates of chronic illness. Accreditation ensures that clinics meet nationally recognized standards for patient safety, quality of care, care coordination, and operational best practices—all while addressing the unique needs of rural populations.

“Rural Health Clinic accreditation demonstrates that geography does not determine the quality of care our patients receive,” said Dr. Shelly Lowery, CMO and senior vice president of ambulatory practices at Scotland Health. “This accomplishment reflects our entire network’s dedication to providing safe, trusted, and high-quality primary and urgent care services close to home.” quality primary and urgent care services close to home.”

Accredited RHCs play a vital role in sustaining access to care by supporting team-based models, enhancing care coordination, and strengthening financial stability. These improvements allow organizations like Scotland Health to continuously reinvest in services, technology, and workforce development. This aligns directly with Scotland Health’s vision to be recognized as a premier rural healthcare organization that delivers compassionate, high-quality care while remaining deeply rooted in the communities it serves. based models, enhancing care coordination, and strengthening financial stability. These improvements allow organizations like Scotland Health to continuously reinvest in services, technology, and workforce development. This aligns directly with Scotland Health’s vision to be recognized as a premier rural healthcare organization that delivers compassionate, high quality care while remaining deeply rooted in the communities it serves.

This initial accreditation serves as a foundation for future surveys planned at additional SPN practices, including Marlboro Family Practice and Urgent Care, Pembroke Family Practice and Urgent Care, Scotland Urgent Care, Maxton Family Practice, and Wagram Family Practice. With each upcoming review, Scotland Health continues advancing its commitment to consistent standards of care and equitable access across the entire region.

Scotland Health extends its gratitude to the SPN Leadership Team, the Clinical Quality and Practice Team, and all staff whose dedication made this achievement possible. Appreciation is also given to the broader health system leadership for their continued support of quality, safety, and continuous improvement across all services.

As healthcare continues to evolve, Scotland Health remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing rural healthcare delivery through accreditation, innovation, and strong community partnerships—ensuring patients receive the care they need, where and when they need it most.